The Readirect Podcast
Shifting the conversation back to books. Hosted by Abigail Freshley and Emily Rojas.
The Readirect Podcast
Bookish Holiday Gift Guide
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Are you looking for the perfect gift for your book-obsessed friend? Look no further, we're here to guide you this year!
Listen to this episode to find the perfect gift for...
- The coastal grandmother in your life
- The goal-oriented, resolution-setter
- The person who's committed to protecting their peace
- The fired-up advocate
- The fan-fiction obsessed friend
- The Bridgerton fan who's looking to move into the modern era
And give us a gift by leaving a five-star review and following us on TikTok and Instagram!
Recent Reads:
Welcome to the Redirect Podcast. My name is Abigail Freshley and I'm Emily Rojas.
Speaker 2:The Redirect Podcast is a show where we shift the conversation back to books. We discuss themes from some of our favorite books and least favorite books and how those themes relate to our real lived experiences.
Speaker 1:On today's episode, we're rolling out our 2024 bookish gift guide and catching up on some things we've read recently.
Speaker 2:But before we do that, we would just humbly ask that you support the show in a few simple ways, if you love it. So first you can go to Apple Podcasts or anywhere else that you can leave a five star review and smash five stars. Let us know that you love the show.
Speaker 1:You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Redirect Podcast, and if you really really love the show, the ultimate gift yeah, what better gift? Sharing it with a friend. Sharing our show with a friend is by far the best way to help us grow our community of book-loving nerds. And look, new Year's resolutions are coming up, new Year's resis. People are going to be trying to read more. We are here to help do that in a joyful way that sparks joy in people's lives, which we all need, and doesn't feel like a chore. Reading should not feel like a chore.
Speaker 2:Reading should not feel like a chore. That's what we're here for, unless you're like college and then it's a chore oh my gosh, yeah, so true literally anyways anyways, we're here to give you the download, the skinny, the deep dive into what you need to get for your reading. Obsessed friend, uh, mom, older sister, cousin, person, you got a Secret Santa at work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Secret Santa draw. Are you in a Secret Santa this year?
Speaker 2:No, no, not yet. Last year, my work did one, but haven't heard anything about that this year, so I don't know if they're doing something different, but it is a little early. As we're recording this, it's still pre-Thanksgiving, so yeah. I'll probably do some dirty Santas with some extended family, but no secret Santas. How about you?
Speaker 1:Dirty Santa is fun to do with like a close group, like a close group of friends or family. It's not fun to do with like co-workers or something because it's like okay, then somebody, People get shafted.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like a bad gift at my last job, they would do an ornament dirty santa, which was actually really fun because it's like there's really no bad yeah, but people bring fun ornaments, and so that's a good way to do it too. That's a lot better, I like that I like that version.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, I am in a dirty santa. I'm not a dirty, a secret santa with my book club.
Speaker 2:Oh, fun, fun. Do you have your person like a?
Speaker 1:35 limit, um, and actually it's so cute, okay, so our last meeting of the year is on december 8th and we last year we did a cookie swap um everyone brings cookies. You bring your own little box and then you take a couple of everyone's cookies. Oh fun. And then this year we're still doing that, but we're also doing a secret santa that's really cute.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and as you're hearing this, I think we'll still probably have our book, uh, swap open, so I'm gonna be reposting some more about that, but I encourage you to go ahead and join that, because it's kind of like a secret santa. You'll be matched with someone and you can send each other a book based on your reading preferences. So, yeah, give a book, get a book. Go to our Instagram at redirect podcast or I'll put the link to in our show notes for this episode so you can join yeah.
Speaker 1:Amazing, and here's some ideas for you. Yeah, exactly, um. Do you want to kick it off, or should I?
Speaker 2:I'll kick it off first. Um, so this was my best idea. I think I love like, uh, start with, start high I. I love like a theme gift, like where you can do a couple things and around a theme. So I thought this is for your fired up friend or, uh, someone who's really passionate about, you know, access to literature, to literature. So I thought you should buy go on Etsy, there's a lot of options a banned book tote bag, very affordable, and that can be their library bag.
Speaker 2:You know there's some that say, like I'm with the band, there were some cute band, I read band books and then you could fill it up with a couple banned books or challenge books. So I picked out a few that I really like. These are my favorites. Um, a lesson before dying by ernest gaines. I've talked about that before. Are you there, god, it's me, margaret.
Speaker 2:We have like a whole episode or two devoted to this. Um, but that's an excellent book. Although it is for younger children, I think it's also for the inner child in all of us. Um, persepolis, that's a graphic novel that both of us have talked about reading. That is really, really good. And then the Glass Castle those are mine, those are top band and challenge books that are constantly band and challenge, and the great thing about a lot of band books is they're older and so you could probably get them on Thrift Books for a reasonable price. Obviously, there are a lot of newer books that are also being banned in Challenge, but there's some that have like a long. You know. They make it to the top list because they have a long history of being freaking out people for no reason.
Speaker 2:So, I think now's a great time to support these kind of books as well, for no reason, of course, and I think this is a good theme. Or you could do like, like. If you don't want to do the tote, you could do like a bookmark or a little sticker for their candles, something like that. Um, but give it like a whole thematic banned books theme, and yeah, I love that idea.
Speaker 1:I would add the giver and I would also add like a bunch of different queer romances. Yes, because those are all about to come under fire. Yes, so, and they're so good, and it would make me so sad if those actually became really hard to get, because there's so much good romance content out there that features queer characters Exactly.
Speaker 2:Do you think it would be?
Speaker 1:We've talked about a lot of them on this podcast yes, we did a whole episode on banned books also.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we just generally talk about a lot of books that people probably think are problematic.
Speaker 1:We talk about like a lot of gay books, yeah, you know, and fan fictions yes, don't get me started, I've had enough.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we should be able to if. If someone wants to ban a book, like we should also get to ban a book.
Speaker 1:Oh, we get one back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, or you get one back, or like there should be some kind of reciprocity, like if you're going to take away Hard Stopper, we should get to take away something really stupid that no one actually likes to read. You know what I mean? I need to workshop this a little more to think of which books I would. Uh, or yeah, you get to, you get to bring one book back for how about this?
Speaker 1:okay, it's banned. They get to take away hard stopper, uh-huh, but we get to take away any like made for tv movie starring candace cameron beret.
Speaker 2:Okay, I like that, yeah, yeah, I think that's fair yes, like everything you want to take out of culture, we also get to take something out of culture like, yeah, you take requires balance you take away some tony morrison. We uh take away some like male podcasts. You know, they get just wax.
Speaker 1:How about this? You take away some tony morrison, we take away some john piper. Oh, wouldn't that feel so good yeah, like they sorry yeah, not, not even just like banned, but you can't exist anymore you have to stop making content. You don't get to talk publicly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, ever again, okay, so that's fair, that would be a great gift to me if we could have a better system to make sure that there's balance, you know, in the universe. So, okay, that's a great gift to me if we could have a better system to make sure that there's balance, you know, in the universe.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's a great proposal that was chaotic.
Speaker 2:But, yeah, go also give us a gift. Call your Congress member.
Speaker 1:Tell them that if they're going to that, we want to ban back Derailed yeah.
Speaker 2:So, anyways, go listen to our episode on banned books that can be your gift to us and then go buy some of the banned books. We go into a lot more detail about several of the ones I just mentioned on that episode, um, so you can get some more ideas based on, like the person you're giving it to. I think you can know what they're most interested in or what kind of books they like to read. Uh, I try to give a few options there's a childhood book, there's a graphic novel, there's more literary book and then there's a memoir of the four I mentioned. So that should give you plenty of diverse picks based on the person's interests.
Speaker 2:Hey, great idea Thank you, what's your first gift idea?
Speaker 1:Okay, this is a book that I kind of forgot to mention on this podcast, but it would make an amazing gift because I read it during a time where I read a bunch of other good stuff. So this book is Be Ready when the Luck Happens. By Ina Gardner Did.
Speaker 2:I put it on the podcast.
Speaker 1:No, Okay, I didn't Okay. This is a memoir by the Barefoot Contessa. This is perfect. Yeah, and I'm sorry, ina Gardner, and I know that's her name. I just said Ina Gardner, but her name is Ina Garden. Yeah, but you know it's like garden.
Speaker 2:I was going along with you, so. I did not question it at all.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ina Garden. Because you know why I wrote that? Why? Because it's good for the gardener in your life, that's what I was thinking, okay, it's in your life, that's what I was thinking.
Speaker 1:Okay, it's great for the home cook, the gardener, the person who brings coastal grandmother vibes, the person who is into, um, you know, making like rustic, delicious meals in their kitchen in like a non-trad wife way, because trad wives won't like this. No, because this book is also about aina gardens, um, kind of coming of coming of age in the 50s and 60s as a young woman and then navigating her marriage to the beloved Jeffrey and kind of forging a path for them in their marriage that was different than a lot of the other marriages that were modeled at the time and their marriage that like, was different than a lot of the other marriages that were modeled at the time. She was child free by choice in a time where that was like very, very, very uncommon, and yet she also made a career out of like classically feminine domestic endeavors like cooking and gardening and hosting and catering and, like you, you know, so it's just, it's really interesting, and I listened to her audio book.
Speaker 1:It's available with Spotify premium, um, and she narrates it, which is really nice. She's a very soothing, calming voice and it was so interesting. I learned so much. Their marriage is goals. Her life is so cozy and I just feel like this is a great gift. It's not too long and everybody loves her, yeah, also, one thing that you would not guess about her is that she started her career in the federal government, working in the White House Office of Management and Budget. I would never have guessed that.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Wow, it's crazy, yeah, so she just has a really interesting life and I love her and I love this book and it would be a great gift.
Speaker 2:I think we talked about this on our last year's gift guide episode. Memoirs make great books, gifts for sure, so I think this is a great one, I'm sure.
Speaker 1:I need to read it and, yeah, I think you'd really like it.
Speaker 2:But yeah, like, if there's someone the person admires, I think a memoir makes an excellent gift. Uh, and she's amazing and uh, I love aina garnett. Um, my favorite, one of my favorite recipes I've ever gotten from anyone else of all time is one of her recipes, so I'm a big fan oh my god.
Speaker 1:And yeah, she talks a lot about. Like you know, she has no classic culinary training.
Speaker 1:She's a totally self-taught cook and um, her kind of like thing in life was just like okay, like the luck will come, but you got to be ready for it. Yeah, um, and she talks a lot about her relationship in the context of her success and it's just really lovely. That sounds really nice. A lot of people like I, it would have been a great gift for me. Yeah, but like, basically this is reflective of something I think would be a good gift for me, but like there's a lot of other people that share my hobbies and I think they would be into this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, I love that um all right, what's you? Okay, this is for your fan fiction obsessed friend Not naming any names, but obviously I recently read Bride by Allie Hazelwood and it screams fan fiction for a lot of reasons, but I think, even if someone's not into, like the Omegaverse, which I know really next to nothing about they would still like this.
Speaker 2:Now, you know more than you used to know. I know more than I used to know. They would still like this more than you used to know. I know more than I used to know, but still not any more than I want to know. But I still think if you like reading fan fiction, you would like pretty much all of ali hazelwood's. Obviously, that's where she got her start. A lot of her books were originally rooted in the fan fiction world. Uh, so I think if, yeah, if you like fan fiction, like ali hazelwood also, you can pre-order the irresistible urge to fall for your enemy by by brigitte knightley, which is she is the author of draco malfoy and the mortifying ordeal of being in love. It's now available for pre-order. So this is a great one. If you know a dramini fanfic lover in your life, um, you could. You know a Dramini fanfic lover in your life, you could, you know, get a pre-order, give them the receipt and be like here you go, it's coming in July, so that's always an option. Yeah, and this is that. I think it's a.
Speaker 2:This one's a new story, but it's going to be by the same author and that's genuinely one of the greatest things I've ever read, one of the greatest romance stories I've ever read read. One of the greatest romance stories I've ever read was, uh, draco malfroy, and don't make me say that again. And then, uh, it's not available yet to pre-order, but alchemist is coming out next year, so I'm just manifesting that maybe by christmas there'll be a pre-order link. Um, I was just looking up some updates, um, and she's still working on some edits. She said the first draft, or like one of the first drafts, was longer than Manicold. Sorry, that is the same author as Manicold and it's the same story, but being retooled to not be a fan fiction. So she said she's having to, like, cut down the significance.
Speaker 1:Longer, okay, girl.
Speaker 2:So she's working on those edits, but maybe one day soon we will get a pre-order. So yeah, I think you know fan fiction has always had a place in the real publishing world. A lot of authors have always gotten their start in fan fiction, but I feel like it's having a real moment right now, for better or for worse. And this is the reminder to please like do not ever spend money on fan fiction, don't buy your friend bound copies of fan fiction.
Speaker 1:But this is a way to feed the beast without doing something ethically wrong and legally wrong Not just morally You're supporting the kind of stories that are told on fan fiction or maybe or on like ao3 or fan fiction that originated there, and, in so doing, are encouraging publishers to go there for more stories yeah, and giving opportunities to people who might not have otherwise had a way into being traditionally published.
Speaker 2:And, interestingly, I the book I'm going to talk about later that I've read recently was also originally a fan fiction, I found out. So I feel like it happens more than you think, um, more than like the obvious ones, because this one I did not anticipate that it was originally fan fiction. So that's always something to look into. If someone's really into it you know the fanfic world or just like talk to them about their interests. Also, I just like always love stuff. So if you have a friend like me who loves stuff, get them like a t shirt or a little sticker or a you know cute little trinket that they can use to display their fandom love. So that's always an option as well, yeah.
Speaker 1:Cute. Next, okay, for me, my next one. I'm going to say for your goal-oriented, organized, resolution-setting friend who's obsessed with their planner, I'm going to get them the bullet journal method by Ryder Carroll. I got really into bullet journaling this year. Um, I successfully like did it all the way through the end of this year. I just made my last spreads for December, wow, and it is, um, I think that's the only planner I've ever had, like post-college, because in college you really have to stay on your planner more, but like post-college, it's the only planner I've ever had that I did all year long and I was able to do some like really creative stuff and like do extra sorts of things. So I was making it myself.
Speaker 1:It was also a really great creative outlet. Like sometimes I put more like energy and effort into like the creative side of it. Yeah, or you don't have to do it all. All you need is, like a bulleted journal, uh, and a pen, yeah, to do this. Um, but the bullet journal method is a really great way of organizing thoughts and like tracking what you've done, organizing what you're doing and planning for the future, and it's a genius method. There's this book that was written by the inventor of the bullet journal method, but there's also like a million YouTube videos and TikToks and things about it.
Speaker 1:But for your friend who might be into that, this is a short book and it's really helpful and I want more people to be into bullet journaling. I love that.
Speaker 2:And I feel like you could do another theme with this. You could get them this book, get them a bullet journal and some like pens or like cute little things, stickers, wash tape, expand on it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, in my bullet journal I use. In my bullet journal I bought like three little rolls of washi tape that I've used like throughout the whole year. I still have plenty left and also like. But then also I had other stuff like different pieces of like cool cardstock or like themed stickers or whatever, and like all of that is totally superfluous. I had got like some stamps or something like that. Yeah, none of that is necessary, yeah.
Speaker 2:But it makes it more fun. Yeah, it could be fun for, uh, you know, a nice little package gift love that that sounds fun. You make you want to get into bullet journaling yeah um, okay.
Speaker 2:So my last one is for the bridgerton fan, who needs to be brought into the modern era in terms of how women are being treated, and this is in terms of the books, because what the hell I had to read that. Don't think anyone else should. I understand that's like a genre and people like it, people like a woman being thrown around a little. I don't. So I recommend the mischief and matchmaking series by emma albin. I've talked about these a million times, but there's two books. They're both set in like the Bridgerton era I don't know what that's called Regency.
Speaker 1:Regency era.
Speaker 2:The Regency era, but they're queer romances, speaking of banned books, and it's just like more nice, everyone's nice. It's like probably a fake world because everyone's too nice and too supportive. But it's what you need in this time is to see people be happy and fall in love. And if that's what they want, they want some regency, they want some love, they want some banter, they want some enemies to lovers, they want some found family, they want a supportive friends and family environment. You should read both of these and you could buy them both. Same kind of thing. You can make it a cute little thing. Uh, yeah, because they're both out now. So you would get two little books and give it to your friend who loves the regency era but needs to to move on. You know from you know, grasping someone so hard, they get bruised out of anger I am here to say I'm not here for that.
Speaker 1:I still love the bridgerton books and you can read that's okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you can read them if you want. It's just like, if that's not what they want anymore right right now, or they've read that they liked it. Here's the next step. You know how? About equality, which I get it, it's not. It's not like, that's not realistic in the air.
Speaker 1:I understand it's not really trending right now. Yeah, so might want to read about it escape.
Speaker 2:Anyways, yeah, these are really cute books and I think, like emma albin is not a big name author, I think she I hope she becomes more successful, but I feel like it's always good to support people who are, um, you know, she's only released two books so far and so she's really in the career, yeah more independent. Yeah, up and coming Cute. Get in, get the books, get out the end Amazing.
Speaker 1:Okay, I have one last category, plus a small bonus, yeah, okay. Next category is for the person who is trying to aggressively protect their peace. This is for the person who spent four years, from 2016 to 2020, burning themselves out, working really hard, and now is like I need a different approach. I need to care for myself. 2024 is about caring for my heart and soul and protecting my peace to the best of my ability.
Speaker 1:Here are four books I think could be included in your library. Um, this is for that person, so you can give them. Breeding sweetgrass by robin ball kimberer. This is a five-star book for me this year. I talked about this on a previous episode. This, this book, is really great for like helping you connect with nature and thinking about like the role that you play in the greater, like just in the whole world, and like the role that you play in nature.
Speaker 1:The Wellness Trap by Christy Harrison. This is to remind people that you don't have to go on a diet and that ultimately, it is just capitalism and doing all these different, specific things people tell you to do is just a way to help people make money and that you can think about this in a way, healthier way. It's a trap. Three my Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem is a book about how to heal trauma in your body, collectively and as an individual, and about the way that trauma lives inside of our bodies. And four is Rest, is Resistance, by Trisha Hersey. This is about exactly what it says rest being a form of resistance to a world that is constantly trying to push you down. And it's okay to take rest and it's okay to feel joy, and doing so is an extreme act of bravery. I love all of those Starter pack for people who are protecting their peace.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And then you throw in a lavender candle or you know some bath salts, you know whatever. Yeah, throw in some relaxation in there.
Speaker 1:And so last category, bonus category, and you're welcome to add to this too. This is for the reader who doesn't need any more recommendations. Their TBR is long. They have tons of physical books in their bookshelf. They don't need any more. They know what they like. They read all the time. They don't need any more. They know what they like, they read all the time. You can get this person.
Speaker 1:Kindle accessories, like a sticker, a pop socket, a new case or like one of those cool pillows that you like fold in half and then, like they, set it on there and so they can read while laying down Audible credits.
Speaker 2:Excellent.
Speaker 1:Thrift books. A gift card? Hey, another great one. 25 bucks on thrift books. A gift card hey, another great one, 25 bucks on thrift books. Do you know how far that can get you? That can go really far, really far, yeah. Um, stickers, cute bookmarks. I recently got a gift from a friend that was like this little metal, uh, like bookmark, with a little charm in the end, and on the bookmark is a picture of jesus and he's he's peeking out on top of the page and it says is that smut? Oh?
Speaker 2:my gosh, I saw that, I think on etsy or something, and I almost sent it to you because I was like this is so funny.
Speaker 1:So it was really funny, yeah great gift and also goals, that cool book stamp thing that's like from the library that's cool yeah goals.
Speaker 1:Um, and then my last idea was a membership at a local bookstore. So, like my local indie bookstore, if you pay like 20 bucks a year or something like that, you are a member and you get like, uh, early access to certain releases and then you also get like 20 off every purchase. Oh, wow, um, it's a way to build loyalty. Like big, big chain bookstores have that as well, like, I'm pretty sure, uh, barnes and noble has that too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's nice yeah, I love that. Um, I last christmas in dirty santa got a six month audible gift card or a subscription, and that is a great gift because it is for six months, but it's really like you just get the credits, you know you don't have to use them, so they stack up so throughout the year. I think I still have one left Because between that and I use Spotify and I don't primarily listen to audiobooks. Yeah, but between all of them I've definitely put them to good use when there's like a newer book I really want to read, but not necessarily pay for.
Speaker 1:So I think that's a really great and I have to wait on for like weeks and weeks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree so yeah.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I would say, like that's for the person, that they know what they love. You want to support their addiction, or maybe?
Speaker 2:you're not sure what they would want to read, so that's a safer bet. I really want one of those. Or you don't know what they've already read because they read so much, yeah so yes the, the really don't sleep on the thrift books gift card.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a great gift. It really is. It goes so far and a little.
Speaker 2:Like you said, it's like a little investment goes a long way, because like just a few dollars can get you especially. Especially they always do deals and then they'll throw in discounts if you add more.
Speaker 1:So a little can go a long way, yeah, you can build up rewards. Yeah, and then also better for the environment, yeah, and you are not serving capitalism as much. It feels good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does feel better You're thrifting, and they do also have some new books on there as well. So, yeah, yeah, it's great. Love it Amazing.
Speaker 1:Great.
Speaker 2:Okay, Segway. I saw Wicked last night oh okay, I'm seeing it on Monday.
Speaker 1:Okay, do you want me to not say anything? I unfortunately don't want you to say anything.
Speaker 2:That's okay.
Speaker 1:The reason for that is that I just want to go into it with a pure heart. I get it and I just am really afraid of being swayed because the people who told me so far also, they really love it. Uh-huh, and I want to. If I'm going to love it, I want to genuinely love it and not feel like, totally, I need to love it, yeah, but I'm sensing that you loved it.
Speaker 2:well, I wouldn't say either way. Yeah, well, I can see that uh, anyways, I just wanted you guys to know that I did see it last night and it was a good experience, that's all good, I'm glad. I'm glad to hear it wasn't a flop no, not a flop, and I'll you know what's so funny. This is not related to the content of Wicked, but Eric went with me and he did not know I wasn't seeing it with a man.
Speaker 2:You know, not ideal. But he did not know that it was related to the Wizard of Oz number one. Oh my God, he didn't know it was a musical number two oh my God. And he's also never seen or read the wizard of oz like he had. No, he was like, he's like, um, like wait so the wicked witch like what's that?
Speaker 1:he liked it though he liked it, but uh, he had a good time.
Speaker 2:It was just like oh, I would have at least explained to you the plot of the wizard of oz before, but I don't think it necessarily matters um. But I will say also at the end he fully guessed that um, he fully guessed without any prompting. That would become the and um in part two, obviously in um will become the. I think those are the two he he figured out and he understood that the wizard of oz was her father. So I was like okay, that makes me feel like it is easy enough to follow what's gonna happen if someone has no concept.
Speaker 1:Smart, yeah, and good at guessing stuff.
Speaker 2:He's very good at guessing plot twists, which makes me mad because I'm not like, I'm just along for the ride like me too I'm like, oh, what I'm just too like in the moment.
Speaker 1:But yes, I would say like eric he was, like he knows a lot about marvel and like when like the um avengers movies were coming out, like you know all the theories about like infinity war and end game and all that, so like he was just good at that kind of stuff and like understanding it I remember at that time talking to him about it and just being like what are you talking about?
Speaker 2:you're smarter than me yeah, I, literally, if I had no I, I would have never figured any of that out if I didn't already have the concept of having read the book, which neither of those things happens in the book, but then, um, like having seen the musical multiple times, like I was shocked. There was no like foreshadowing goes over my head. You know like people are like oh, fiero.
Speaker 2:He said he's brainless multiple times like yeah, like he's just a dumb little guy. Didn't connect that. So I just thought that was really a funny experience watching with him. I really, emma, wanted to go see with me whenever that's an option, so I want to go see it again with the girls, you know emma will get around to it in four to five business months yeah but I will say if you are out there, you have to go see it in theaters.
Speaker 2:Whoever's listening to this, do not wait until it comes out like you really need to go see it in the theater. It is worth it so okay, that's my.
Speaker 1:I'm excited going on monday. Please keep us updated here, on the pod and me it's friday, by the way, so I'm going.
Speaker 2:Yes, sorry, by the time you're listening to this, she's already seen it, yeah that's true, yeah, okay, what have you read recently?
Speaker 1:what have I read? Um, sorry, do you want me to go first? No, I'm just trying to figure out where to start. Okay, a couple things here, so we'll just do a little extended time of this one I texted you about this, so this is not new to you, new to the listeners.
Speaker 1:I listened to charm offensive. You are among a large group of people who have told me like, oh my god, I love this book so much. Oh my god, this is the cutest book ever. Yeah, and I did not dislike it. Yeah, I'm here to say that I did not. Yeah, I'm not tripping over myself about this book, and at times I felt that it was annoying. But you texted and said honestly, I can see I don't agree, but I can see that because it gave one last stop vibes which you and I disagree on. Yeah, in the sense that there wasn't a lot of like. I feel like it wasn't like plot driven tension. Yeah, it was just like miscommunication.
Speaker 1:You guys are just being angsty and annoying type tension yeah, and you like that yeah, and I don't like that yeah, because my thing is I don't, I don't get as a person, not saying what you feel yeah. No, I agree, I'm not that person. I don't keep things to like. I'm not going to sit here and be like if I'm mad, you'll know. Yeah Right, so it drives me crazy when I'm reading a book and people are just like oh my God, I just am over-interpreting what he thinks.
Speaker 1:Like just grow up, yeah, over-interpreting what he thinks. And mama, like just grow up, yeah. But that being said, the ending was really cute. Yeah, I have long been a fan of bachelor nation well, well, more of like a hater. But like yeah you know I hate a part yeah, so that was fun like reading about that. Um, yeah, any thoughts? Yeah, I think I can make a case for it.
Speaker 2:Um, no, because I agree with you. I actually, to me, found the more interesting part. Well, I found the two characters to be individually likable. I didn't love the ongoing miscommunication. What I found to be most enjoyable about this book was like I really really enjoyed and in some ways not in like a one to one ratio way, but I really related to Charlie a lot a little bit felt like I was.
Speaker 2:I understood the miscommunication because I felt like I understand more charlie, like I don't even know what I feel and like, let me, I have to figure it out first and so like, what am I gonna do and try, I don't know. Like I, I understood that a little bit. Dev, it was a little crazy and I loved him too. And so dave, sorry dave, dev, dave, um, I'm just reading the summary to remember what I liked about it and I like the ending, but I think, yeah, the miscommunication part I didn't love as much.
Speaker 2:What I liked more was like both of their individual journeys and then like coming together at the end. Like I enjoyed dave's like struggle of, like I truly believe in this show. I believe in like love and I believe in romance, and I've just had my heart broken and I also struggle with my mental health and how am I gonna like bring all these things together and take care of myself? And then I enjoyed charlie like trying to figure out his identity and who he is and what he even feels, and like not necessarily knowing or understanding and having to do all that while being on camera, while being responsible for all these women. And I liked the behind the scenes, like bachelor nation, adjacent parts of it. So I think the miscommunication part yeah, I get why you didn't like that and it's not super plot driven, it is more like their relationship kind of building up over time, um, and not as much like forward action, which I understand why you wouldn't like it as much, because that's very one last stop. That's why I said that yeah, I would.
Speaker 1:I'll say like one thing I just found like I'm the whole time I'm thinking why did they let this man be on this show? Yes, that is like if you haven't read it. Basically, one, one of the main characters, charlie, he's like not, he's like a former tech bro guy from like Silicon Valley who has like OCD and kind of like wild anxiety and just has a lot of challenges in life, like the lack of vetting that must have happened for this man to be able to be on this show Killing me.
Speaker 2:It was killing me.
Speaker 1:And one thing I did really appreciate about it was I feel like I learned a lot more about the asexual sex spectrum. Yeah, definitely, and that's why, again, it's so important to have books like this. Like, I felt like they had a conversation throughout the book about him trying to figure out where he is and his sexuality and maybe landing somewhere in the asexual spectrum and, um, it didn't feel like in like a preachy way or even in like a oh, this is a disruption from the story because, like, sometimes, when, like, a fictional book is trying to explain a concept, yeah, it doesn't have to be related to sexuality, it could be about anything. Yeah, sometimes it feels like it's an aside where it's like pause, hey, let me explain this really quick. Yeah, but this felt really easy and like tied to the plot of the book in a very natural way.
Speaker 1:That just made it seem like not a big deal and I really appreciated that, and that's why it's so important that books like this exist.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think allison cochran is so good at that. We both really like her other books. Um, that's like a big point of hers is to like incorporate like mental health or like disabilities into her queer romances, which is a lot like it can come across very preachy to have all those different things, but she balances it so well of like this is just who this person is and like this is a part of the story.
Speaker 1:You know, yeah, it's so natural and normal that they would talk about it. Yeah, okay, a couple other notes on recent reading. Um, okay, so, uh, I don't know if we shared on instagram. I know I shared with you. Uh, there was the amazon originals, a little like package of novellas that are, like, yes, holiday themed. I've read a few of them I've read three. They are not all created equal, sure um, so I will save. Maybe we can talk about all of them.
Speaker 2:I've read three.
Speaker 1:They are not all created equal, so I will save. Maybe we can talk about all of them like after you've read them, but there are a couple of standouts, so that's really fun. And I just wanted to also give a PSA. You don't have to have Kindle Unlimited to read these books. If you just have Amazon Prime, you should be able to read them.
Speaker 2:Yes, you saved me because I was about to sign up for a month of Kindle Unlimited and then you told me that. So I'm excited we're recording this before Thanksgiving, but I am planning on reading those over Thanksgiving, so yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:They're really fun and quick, and even the ones that aren't that good are really short, so whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Also, this is really helping me reach my end of the year reading goals, because I'm counting these all as books, because I am as you.
Speaker 2:Should, it'll bulk up the number for sure.
Speaker 1:Yes, and my last note before I let you talk is my friend Nathan, that I met in 2018 when I was walking the Camino de.
Speaker 1:Santiago has written a book about the Camino and like his memoir of that trip, wow. And he first of all, like, whenever the book comes out, we'll have him on the show to talk about the experience of writing it, for sure To his credit, like, and I told him this note, I was like hey didn't know you could write like that, like I didn't know, that was like I didn't realize that, but it's really good. Yeah, and I'm not just saying that because I feature prominently, yeah.
Speaker 1:Which I do In a very honest way, I to say, like reading about me from the perspective of someone else yeah, was at times humbling, um, but anyways, I read that and gave him some notes on it and it was really good. And whenever it's ready for public consumption, um, we'll share more about it.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I can't wait, that was so interesting and that is crazy.
Speaker 1:At times it almost felt like I I was like, okay, I'm gonna pick it up and read it again and I was like I don't know if I can right now, like I'm scared.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I always wonder that's fascinating because like that's one perspective. But I do always wonder of like when people because like that's one perspective. But I do always wonder of like when people write memoirs about, like their family or like really when they're really scathing, you know, or telling people's like secrets or airing dirty laundry, like I wonder what that experience is like for everyone involved. Like I think that would be so hard to be a memoir writer and to write about people you really know in your real life and to like not have to be honest because you want to be honest but release like how they're gonna feel. Reading about themselves, that would be difficult, and then to read about yourself, that would be weird.
Speaker 1:So, dude, I mean we'll talk about it more when the book comes out, but, like he, one of the main storylines is that he had, like a, a will they won't they kind of relationship with our friend who was on the Camino with us, and I mean, ultimately it didn't work out Sure and um, like he's so honest about it and like the ways, the ways that he messed up.
Speaker 1:he was so honest and transparent about his mental health and like the things that were going on in his mind during the trip and it just like it was so much respect to him for being honest about it, that's amazing and like look I.
Speaker 1:This certainly was not a scathing review of me like I feature prominently throughout the book and there was a couple moments where, like when he, like when he describes first meeting me, uh-huh, he's like wow, yeah, she's kind of a lot. And then I was like, oh my god, yeah, that sounds right like.
Speaker 2:That's just like.
Speaker 1:That is the impression I make dude, like I can't imagine like reading, like if you were um tara westover's dad, right and, honestly, some people deserve it.
Speaker 2:But I just feel like man, writing a book is such a way. If you are going to talk badly about someone, right, or if someone has harmed you, that is the ultimate way to draw your boundaries in the sand, because it's just yeah, it's such a commitment so I appreciate the people who do, but I think that would be very hard.
Speaker 1:I don't think I can be honest. I've already asked him. Yeah, I've already asked him to come on the pod I.
Speaker 2:I can't wait to read it and I can't wait for him to be. I would love to talk to him more about that.
Speaker 1:And like to be honest. I was out here on these streets like it was a different time. You know what I'm saying? This was pre me being married, yeah, so you know that also comes yeah, and I just want to say that yeah, it was a, it was a time.
Speaker 2:It was a different time. It was a time. Okay, what?
Speaker 1:have you been reading recently?
Speaker 2:okay, to bridge the gap.
Speaker 1:Uh, I read conclave as you texted me omg, omg, omg, okay, omg, this book was so good.
Speaker 2:First of all it's you, it is drugs, it's so good, okay, I for some reason, when you first described it, I I told you this, but I thought it was really long. So then you text me and you're like it's actually super short. I read it in one day. I was like, oh, okay. So I was kind of putting off reading it for that reason. It's less than 300 pages, so not a page is wasted. Not a page is wasted, it throws you right in there. So you, the first page, the pope is dead and he's got to be wild, so you're like instantly sucked into the drama.
Speaker 2:Something else I loved about this book was like every time you would feel like I've got the rhythm going, I know what's happening, I see where this is going. The rug would get pulled out from under you and something crazy would happen. Something crazy would happen, there'd be a twist and it would be like, ok, what's next? Then a whole new path would be taken. So yeah, because I knew there was a twist at the end. I've heard people talk about it, but I didn't realize how many little other twists there were.
Speaker 1:There were crazy twists. I hate to do this to the listeners, because we're not going to say what the final twist is, because you just have to read it. You have to read it, you have to read it hey, there is no possible way to see that twist coming I thought I knew, I thought I knew I was way wrong hey way
Speaker 1:wrong yeah, hey, no, and like looking back, it is breadcrumbed yeah, absolutely, but I thought there are other things it's not. It doesn't piss me off in the way it's not out of nowhere, it's not unearned, it's not out of nowhere. But you are never going to guess the twist.
Speaker 2:Never, I promise you yes, and there are also so many little things that happen in between. Also, I just want to say this might have been men suck, but this might have been like genuinely one of the best portrayals of faith I've ever read lamelli, my god like oh my god, that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:How is this less?
Speaker 2:than 300 pages, like the main character, lamelli, or the person whose perspective we're in.
Speaker 1:He to me by ralph finds in the movie oh, of course.
Speaker 2:Okay, I can't wait to see the movie, first of all because I could picture everything in my head. But he like both. I don't know. It's so rare to find a character who both has like such an earnest and real faith and also doubt, like it feels like it's easy to put someone who is like a fanatic or, you know, like sold out and like crazy, fully believes everything, and then it's easy to show someone who's just like hypocritical and doesn't believe anything, um, but there's a part here where lamelli says like all these years have I been worshiping the church and not worshiping god, god? There's like he goes this whole sermon about how doubt is like um critical to faith and how like, if you you're not doubting, you don't have real faith.
Speaker 1:I mean.
Speaker 2:Yes, uncertainty is the enemy of faith, like who has had faith or experience with faith in their life. Like it was just such an honest portrayal of it. Because you realize, like, and I think lamelli realizes like, oh, all these guys around me, one of them will be the pope. They're all problematic in their own ways, they're all complicated, they're not perfect, and then they become the pope. That doesn't take away all these other things about them. Like the pope inherently is a flawed person, like every you know religious person you're looking up to is a complex person and has doubts for sure. And like isn't perfect, you know. And like they all have a story, they'll have a history yeah, and it's just fascinating.
Speaker 1:Some of them are bad, yeah people yeah, and some of them are just complicated people or have different opinions than you.
Speaker 2:I just thought it was really good. I don't know how Catholics would feel about it. I can understand how people might find it to be sacrilegious in some ways, if you're a very devout Catholic. It was fascinating. I had never cared to know how the Pope was chosen, and so this was very interesting.
Speaker 1:When we, when we were kids, there was a new pope.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it made me think he's got to be getting up there. There might be another conclave soon, so no, I mean, I don't wish him to die, but I think he's been the pope for a while and they're pretty old, you know. So, um, it's just a fascinating process, I think. Um, it's just so interesting, like how humanity tries to like codify the spirit of god and oh and like make it into laws yes, and rituals.
Speaker 1:You know we do our best to come up with these symbols to reflect something that we cannot understand, yeah, and then to control it by saying this is where it is, this is where it isn't, this is who gets access to it, this is who doesn't get access to right and this is all. Like that's so fake, yeah, so dumb, yeah, and like this book gets to the point of like hey, if you think you know where god belongs, it doesn't belong, then you're the last person who knows where God is.
Speaker 2:Well, I really liked what Benitez said at one point was something like like Lamelli is like I don't want there to be a schism in the church. That's what I'm scared of If we can't come to a consensus, if we can't find out the will of God, and Benitez is like maybe a schism would be the best thing for the church Because, like, we need to be refined and, like you know, there needs to be like people who are gonna if, if everyone is voting for the person that they believe is going to be the pope, that that is god's will, that this person is a pope, and then you're willing to give in on that, then was that like, then what does that mean? Then it's not really god's will because, like, you either believed that or you didn't. You know what I mean and I thought that was fascinating. I really loved everything about this book.
Speaker 2:It was so good oh my god, go see the movie. I need to go see the movie I'm hoping so good.
Speaker 1:And like zach didn't read the book, he did go see the movie with me and I kept like looking over at him yeah, and he was like yeah, there are so many twists. The big plot at the big plot twist at the end. He like reached over and was like grabbing my hand and like yes. He was like what? Yes, it's.
Speaker 2:There are just so many moments that will have you gasping out loud um so very good, I can't wait to see the movie. Uh, okay, next book I read. Last thing to talk about is, uh, the ministry of time by kaylee ann bradley call you tell me about that okay, I think you might like this.
Speaker 2:Um, okay, so it's a little bit of one of those that's hard to explain, so I'll get, I'll get around to it, you know. So basically there's this woman and she works for the british government as a linguist. She has an expertise in languages. She is recruited by the Ministry of Time to work on a special project because they have basically discovered this mechanism that allows them to go back in time and they have decided to experiment. Like, instead of sending people back in time and just seeing what happens, they're deciding to go back in time and just seeing what happens. They're deciding to go back in time and bring someone from the past who was about to die to the future, so they're not disrupting time, like they're going at the moment of what would have been their death taking them to the future, so it's not going to have any ripple effect. And then they're studying those people to see how they like, if there's any physical impact, mental impact, how they handle um, jumping in time, basically, um, so she is recruited as a bridge which is like a liaison. There every person who's brought from the past to the future has a person from the ministry in current day who's working with them to, um, you know, help them acclimate, answer any questions they have, get them to and from their appointments at the ministry. You know, like, just help them transition into modern day, which is obviously difficult.
Speaker 2:Um, because she's paired with someone who, uh, is commander gore. He's from the 1800s and she, um, you know, he doesn't know like anything about the modern day, not just like how the internet works, but also like what is the holocaust, like? There's so many things he doesn't know, and so she's having to help him. Um, it's a romance because they fall for each other, but it's also, like, very complicated, because there's like someone after them, um, bad things are happening. There might be, like, you know, stuff's going on, you know, and also it's complicated because he's like in my time, a woman must not be approached in a certain way like she's like let's go on a date and he's like I must court you.
Speaker 2:So there's that complicated layer. There's like a dangerous element, there's something bad's going on. Um, what's going to happen? Will they be able to triumph over everything? So I really like this book.
Speaker 2:This book actually apparently started out as a fan fiction, which I didn't know. Um, it wasn't like a fan fiction, it was fandom. Not, it wasn't like of a fandom, it was just of like history. I believe like this person, commander gore, might have actually been a real person. Um, I'm not sure if that's like accurate, but uh, it was like a kind of a self-insert historical sci-fi, um, on ao3, I think, but it is very interesting. Um, it's weird, like, like, I don't think it's for everyone.
Speaker 2:Honestly, I read, listen to the audio book. I think I would recommend reading it and said cause there are some things that's hard to follow that at the end I was like wait, wait, wait, what? Which I think would have been a little better if you're reading it or a little more clear. So I would recommend reading it, not listening to the audiobook, personally, but I thought it was really interesting. I thought it was like kind of a crazy ending, ambiguous ending. If you're not okay with that, then just know that. And there was some crazy plot twists that I did not see coming, but I really liked it.
Speaker 2:I liked the romance in this a lot, but I also liked the like mysterious, like tense. There's a lot of tension, like mounting tension, but I thought the romance was nice too, cause it's like I don't know, it's like it's not like an intense love at first sight, instant attraction. It's like over time, as they're going through this experience together, like something real forms between them, despite them being from different worlds, different experiences, different cultures, like completely different people. So very interesting, I think people would like it.
Speaker 1:That is really interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah it kind of has like polarizing people's opinions. That's why I'm like I don't know, just know that it's definitely ambiguous and it's definitely a little weird. But you know, not every, it's not for everyone, but I liked it little weird.
Speaker 1:But you know, not ever it's not for everyone, but I liked it okay.
Speaker 2:Interesting, I might give it a shot. Yeah, I think you might like it. I do think you would, but you have to let me know, if you read it, what you think yeah, the only thing I'm worried about is the ambiguous ending yeah, it's um.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's to me it's like you don't know for sure, but there's enough resolution that you can feel good about it. So that's what I'm going to say, without spoiling too much, but I think it was enough for me because I don't like super ambiguous. But I don't know, it's one of those where, as soon as you finish it, you'll be like.
Speaker 2:Ministry of Time ending Reddit to see what everyone's saying about it. So just know that. But but it was enough, it was enough resolution for me that I felt like okay, yeah, that feels good. Cool, yeah, very weird hey great, great epi, great conversation great. So yeah, see you guys. Merry christmas, happy holidays, and we'll have one more episode.
Speaker 1:One more episode for the end of the year.
Speaker 2:That's it yes, yeah, crazy wow time flies when you're having a time a time actually. No, that's not even true. I think we'll have two more before the end of the year if we sometimes we take some like an extended break over the holiday. So it'll depend.
Speaker 1:I guess we'll see depend day we'll let you know. Okay, bye. Do our gift, give door.
Speaker 2:Do our book yeah, do our book, do it all right, bye you.